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Canadian Magnificent class Nuclear Light Aircraft Carrier:


In the Twenty-Seventies, the United States Navy was strained to the breaking point. Global tensions had risen to a level not seen since the World Wars of the Twentieth Century. What were being called “Brush Fire” wars were raging in Africa, Asia, and South America.


The New Soviet Navy was pressuring both the American and European navies. This was compounded by the growing power of the Chinese navy. India continued pressing their own claims as well. Though the United States Navy had seventeen large-deck (Nimitz, Coral Sea, and Ranger classes) and 3 small-deck (Avenger class) carriers, it could not meet the commitments required of it.


Fortunately, the United States was joined by two growing powers in the Northern Eagle Military Alliance (NEMA). Canada and Mexico had taken tremendous bounds in society, technology and politics. Through a joint venture, all three countries designed a powerful yet small aircraft carrier design that helped to take some pressure off of the United States in this time of great turmoil.


Though the Canadian and Mexican governments were on a major upswing, they did not have the same capital and shipbuilding expertise the United States had in carrier design. In fact only Canada had ever operated any carriers and that had been over one hundred years before. The last Canadian carrier, HMCS Bonaventure, had decommissioned June of Nineteen-Seventy.


To that end, it was primarily the United States who did the initial development of the new carrier design. They decided to expand upon the American Avenger (CVE-140) design for several reasons. Chief among these was that such a design would be less expensive to construct than a full size fleet carrier might be to build. Such a design might also be constructed more rapidly than a full sized fleet carrier as well.


However, there were a number of important secondary reasons as well. One of these was that most of the conflicts required ships to operate in shallow waters to get close enough to do any good. The large-decked United States carriers had difficulty operating in shallow waters like the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. As well, in the close quarters of the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of St. Lawrence, the American carriers would not have room to maneuver and would be susceptible to multiple danger not encountered in open water.


The United States Navy was quite capable of handling the open water missions against the Soviet, Chinese, and Indian navies with its large carriers. While these new carriers would be reasonably capable in their own right, the United States Navy would be able to support the smaller carriers closer to shore while staying further out to sea.


In order to get new hulls in the water, development and research into the new design was limited. Still, a number of lessons from the Avenger class were incorporated into the new carrier design in order to improve the combat effectiveness of these new vessels. During this phase, the new carrier design grew a fair amount in size and while the Avenger class was considered an escort carrier, this new design might be more accurately considered a light carrier.


The designers could not help but notice the similarity between the new carrier class and the British Ark Royal class. One of the Mexican designers also noted a similarity between the new carrier they were developing and a light carrier design from the late Nineteen-Seventies that the United States had canceled. During that time period, there was much thought of building smaller aircraft carriers rather than larger (a.k.a. Nimitz class) ones in order to reduce costs.


These designs were planned as replacements for the aging Midway class carriers, one which had already been decommissioned by the late Nineteen-Seventies. This new carrier design was designated CVV for Aircraft Carrier (Medium) and was an attempt provide limited power projection at a lost cost than the much larger Nimitz class. Ultimately, the idea was abandoned, but before that happened blueprints of the finalized design were finished.


Borrowing from the American carrier design of the Nineteen-Seventies, the designers have the new carrier the designation CVV. As the design had grown, at the last minute it was decided to abandon the ski-jump of the Avenger class and instead integrated an angled flight deck and electromagnetic catapults.


Even though based on the Avenger design, sizable changes were made during development. Unlike the Avenger class, the new carrier would be powered by a pair of fusion reactors. They provided more than enough power for the ship, making the design capable of thirty-two knots. While not as fast of most United States super carriers, the carriers were the equal of the Avenger class escort carrier and British Ark Royal class carrier.


Advanced automation was incorporated into the design, vastly reducing the crew necessary to run the ship compared to older carriers of a similar size. For example the old Midway class carrier required a crew of around 2,500 and an air wing of around 1,700. In comparison, the new carrier had a compliment of approximately one third of the old World War II era carrier even though of similar displacement. American carrier personnel were initially assigned to the Canadian and Mexican carriers and assisted in the training of the crews of the new carriers.


Weaponry is for self defense only and incorporated three American combination rail gun and short range missile launchers. On the rear of the superstructure was an American tactical length Mk 41 vertical launch missile system. Originally it was planned to fit the Mk 55 vertical launch system but it was found that there was insufficient space for the system. As a result, the older tactical length Mk 41 launch was fitted in its place. When a third Canadian carrier was authorized, the ship was redesigned in order to incorporate the more advanced Mk 59 launcher.


Interestingly, the dimensions for the Canadian and Mexican light carrier came out to be virtually identical to the aborted CVV concept. Similarly, these light carriers were designed with a pair of catapults although electromagnetic models. This is in spite of the fact that most aircraft operated from the light carriers were VSTOL designs. In part this was done to allow older craft of other allied nations to deploy from the decks of the ships as needed.


This Canada Navy purchased the Dutch developed APAR 8 for their carriers, a four panel active phased array radar system which is an upgraded version of the radar system carried on the Yukon class frigates. The system is extremely capable both as a search and fire control radar.


On the other hand, the Mexican navy chose the American developed SPX-1A radar. Less expensive than the Dutch system, the system is a single rotating active phased array similar in basic concept to the British Sampson radar system. While not as powerful as those on other carrier designs, was considered adequate for the light carrier’s requirements.


As designed, no sonar systems were incorporated into these light carriers. When the last Canadian carrier was being constructed, it was decided to fit the vessel with a hull sonar. The system was later installed on the older Canadian carriers as they came into dock for routine maintenance with a new sonar dome fitted in the bow. Sonar was never installed in the Mexican carrier and it appears that there were no plans to mount the system either.


While not at the same level as the later American carriers, especially the Saratoga class, there were some efforts made to reduce the radar cross signature of the light carrier. In order to reduce building costs to some extent, the light carrier was partially built to civilian standards. Still, the use advanced composites and alloys mean that the vessels were extraordinarily tough.


As described previously, the designation CVVN was at first adopted for the new class. There were concerns about the designation being confused with the CVN designation and might give a wrong impression about the carrier’s capabilities. It was decided to replace this with the original CVLN designation just before the first vessel was commissioned.


Originally is was planned that total of five vessels would be built for the Canadian and Mexican navies with construction starting in the Twenty-Seventies and continuing into the Twenty-Eighties. In the end however three were built for Canada while only one was built for Mexico. The Canadian carriers were named the Magnificent, Bonaventure, and Eagle. The Mexican carrier was named Quetzalcoatl. Originally an additional Mexican carrier was planned but construction was cancelled before it was laid down.


In order to save costs, it was suggested in the United States Congress that a similar light carrier might be built instead of more full sized carriers. However, the Navy was able to persuade the legislature to continue funding full sized carriers. They cited the greater capabilities of the Saratoga class CVN which was then under development.


The air wings of these carriers were tailored to meet the requirements and desires of each country. The Mexican ship tended to use US aircraft designs while the Canadians used both British and United States designs. In both cases, the aircraft tended towards older models although still reliable aircraft. Most were from United States inventory when replaced by newer designs. With respect to power armors, both nations used the Silver Eagle SAMAS as the standard power armor on the ships, in keeping with NEMA practices.


In spite of some initial skepticism, these vessels performed very useful service and were able to relieve some of the pressure on the US Navy. Canada operated two carriers in the North Atlantic and one in the North Pacific, patrolling the oceans and coasts against Soviet forces. This allowed the American carriers to patrol further forward. The Mexican navy operated their carrier primarily in the Atlantic and helped guard the East Coast of Central America from hostilities.


Author Note: With respect to time line, these designs may or may not reflect our modern time line. The time line of these writeups diverged from our time line starting around 1999. Consider the universe that these designs are created for to be an alternate universe not bound by ours.


Model Type: Magnificent class Multi Purpose Light Aircraft Carrier.

Vehicle Type: Ocean, Escort / Light Aircraft Carrier.

Crew:

Ships Crew: 820 (65 officers, 30 chief petty officers, 725 enlisted [Has a high degree of automation])

Air Wing: 560 (78 Pilots, 32 flight deck officers, 440 enlisted).

Troops: 100 (40 pilots for “Silver Eagle” SAMAS power Armor, 60 soldiers in body armor).


Robots, Power Armors, and Vehicles:

Canadian Navy:

Power Armor Compliment:

 

30

USA-PA-04A “Silver Eagle” SAMAS Power Armors.

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

 

18

FV-38 Panther II VSTOL Fighters.

 

4

FV-45-EW Sea Hawk VTOL Jet Jamming Fighters.

 

8

S-14 Buccaneer VSTOL Fighter/Bombers.

 

4

V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors - Airborne Radar Model.

 

8

V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors - Anti-Submarine Model.

 

6

V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors - Transport / Search and Rescue Model.

Mexican Navy:

Power Armor Compliment:

 

30

USA-PA-04A “Silver Eagle” SAMAS Power Armors.

Fighter/Aircraft Compliment:

 

24

FV-38 Panther II VSTOL Fighters.

 

6

FV-45-EW Sea Hawk VTOL Jet Jamming Fighters.

 

4

V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors - Airborne Radar Model.

 

6

V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors - Anti-Submarine Model.

 

8

V-22N Super Osprey Tilt Rotors - Transport / Search and Rescue Model.


M.D.C. by Location:

 

Radar Systems:

 

 

 

[1] APAR-8 Active Phase Array Radar Systems (4, Canadian Carriers):

200 each.

 

 

[1] SPX-1A Rotating Active Phased Array Radar System (Mexican Carrier):

200.

 

Missile Systems:

 

 

 

Mk 41 Tactical Length 32 Cell Vertical Launch System (All but Last Carrier):

220.

 

 

Mk 59-B Forty-Eight Cell Vertical Launcher System (Last Canadian Carrier):

375.

 

Mk 44 “Sea Sabre” Combination Anti-Missile System (3, flight deck):

200 each.

 

USA-M38 Heavy Defense Rail Guns (4, sides):

70 each.

 

[2] Plessey SHIELD II Decoys Launchers (4, hull / superstructure):

10 each.

 

[3] Electromagnetic Catapults (2, flight deck):

100 each.

 

[3] Electromagnetic Arrester Cables (3, flight deck):

50 each.

 

[4] Elevators (2, sides):

200 each.

 

Hanger Doors (2, sides):

200 each.

 

[5] Flight Deck:

2,200.

 

[6] Bridge / Command Tower:

1,200.

 

Outer Hull (per 40 foot / 12.2 meter area):

80.

 

[7] Main Body:

7,200.

Notes:

[1] APAR-8: Destroying the APAR phased array air search system radar system will eliminate the ship’s long range air search ability but weapon systems have backup fire control systems and panels can partially compensate for each other.

SPX-1A: Destroying the SPX-1A rotating phased array radar panel will destroy the ship’s main fire control systems but the vessel has backup systems with a shorter range (Equal to robot vehicle sensors).

[2] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a “called shot,” but even then the attacker is -4 to strike.

[3] If the catapults are destroyed, non VTOL or STOL aircraft cannot be launched. If arrester cables are destroyed, non VTOL or STOL aircraft cannot land until arrester cables are replaced.

[4] If all three elevators are destroyed, no aircraft can be moved from the hangers to the main flight deck.

[5] If the flight decks are destroyed, only VTOL aircraft can be launched or land. VTOL aircraft are at -15% to piloting.

[6] If bridge/ control tower is destroyed, the ship can still be piloted from engineering but with a -15% to piloting rolls. Communication and sensor equipment are not concentrated on the bridge to reduce the effectiveness of bridge hits.

[7] Destroying the main body destroys propulsion and power systems, disabling the ship. The ship is fitted with advanced polymer armors that allow the ship to withstand up to -1,500 M.D.C. before losing structural integrity and sinking. There are enough life preservers and inflatable life boats to accommodate everyone on the ship.


Speed:

Surface: 36.8 mph (32 knots/ 59.3 kph).

Range: Unlimited due to fusion engines (needs to refuel every 20 years and requires maintenance as well). Ship carries six (6) months of supplies on board.


Statistical Data:

Draft: 30.6 feet (9.32 meters) hull and 34.7 feet (10.57 meters) including sonar mount.

Length: 850.3 feet (259.17 meters) waterline and 914.5 feet (278.74 meters) overall.

Width: 126 feet (38.40 meters) waterline and 244.5 feet (74.52 meters) flight deck.

Displacement: 45,200 tons standard and 59,800 tons fully loaded.

Cargo: Can carry 5,000 tons (4,536 metric tons) of nonessential equipment and supplies. Each enlisted crew member has a small locker for personal items and uniforms. Ship’s officers have more space for personal items. Most of the ship’s spaces are taken up by extra ammo, armor, troops, weapons, and engines.

Power System: 2 Fusion Reactors, average life span is 20 years.

Market Cost: Not for sale but costs around one billion credits to construct. If found and sold on the black market would probably cost two to three billion credits. Cost does not include embarked craft and power armors.


WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. Four (4) USA-M38 Heavy Defense Rail Guns: These weapons are mounted with two on either side of the hull for defense against small boats and similar threats. Not considered effective against aircraft or missiles. The rail guns are more powerful than the rail guns carried on most power armors and have greater range. These are the same rail gun which are mounted on the Super Comanche Helicopter, Steel Tiger Attack VTOL, and Wolverine Amphibious Assault Vehicle but are mounted with the gunners behind a protective shield and the gunner’s have a greater payload.

    Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1,828 meters).

    Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 M.D.C. per burst of 20. Single shot inflicts 3D6 M.D.C.

    Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks of gunner (usually 4-6).

    Payload: 4,000 rounds (200 bursts) each.

  2. Three (3) Mk 44 “Sea Sabre” Combination Anti-Missile Defense Systems: These weapons are out on the sides of the hull below the carrier’s flight deck. Two are forward on either side of the flight deck and the other mount is mounted at the rear of the carrier. This anti-missile defense system combines both a rapid fire rail gun and a short range missile launcher. While mounted in one system, both defense systems have separate tracking and fire control systems. The short range missile launchers can target up four targets and can fire a volley up to twice per melee. Quite powerful, the rail gun is capable of destroying any missile or inflicting serious damage on aircraft. The rail gun can fire on automatic at up to six targets per melee (Has +3 to strike missiles and +2 to strike aircraft). In its design, the rail gun is very similar to those carried on the Sea King cruiser and it is likely that the Sea King’s rail guns came from a prototype of this system. The system also can be used against other ships and ground targets. The system has a 360 degree rotation and can elevate up to 90 degrees to fire at targets directly overhead.

    Maximum Effective Range: Rail Guns: 11,000 feet (2 miles / 3.2 km). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Mega-Damage: Rail Guns: 3D4x10 M.D. per burst of 40 rounds (Can only fire bursts). Short Range Missiles: As per short range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

    Rate of Fire: Rail Guns: Six (6) attacks per melee round. Short Range Missiles: Two (2) attacks per melee round, can fire short range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) or four (4) short range missiles.

    Payload: Rail Guns: 8,000 rounds (200 burst) each. Short Range Missiles: Sixteen (16) short range missiles each.

  3. One (1) Vertical Launch Missile Launcher (1): The missile launcher is mounted on top of the island of the carrier just aft of the Phased Array tower. The two older Canadian carriers and the Mexican Quetzalcoatl carries a tactical length thirty-two cell Mk 41 vertical launch missile system while the last built Canadian carrier used a modified superstructure in order to mount the more modern forty-eight cell Mk 59B vertical launch missile launcher system.

    1. MK-41 32 Cell Tactical Length Vertical Launch Missile Launcher: A very reliable vertical launcher system, dating back from the previous century, made in the USA, and exported to numerous countries. The tactical length version could not carry cruise missiles and used almost exclusively to house surface to air missiles. From the beginning, the launchers have been found to be very flexible and adaptable and the launcher can carry two long range missiles or four medium range missiles per cell. Anti-Submarine rocket launched torpedoes also can be fired from the launcher (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details) although are rarely carried. This launcher usually carried only surface to air missiles of various sizes.

      Maximum Effective Range: As per long or medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

      Mega-Damage: As per long or medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

      Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) missiles per melee round and can be fired at multiple targets at the same time.

      Payload: Thirty-two (32) missile cells in the VLS launcher (possible total of 64 long range missiles).Two (2) long range missiles or four (4) medium range missiles may be carried per missile cell. Normal missile compliment was thirty-two (32) long range missiles and sixty-four (64) medium range missiles. Ship carries no reloads.

    2. Mk 59-B Vertical Launch Missile System: The launcher is smaller and carries half as many missiles as the launcher on the American Francis Darcey and Raymond Fox class vessels. The system is similar to the vertical launch system employed on many ships in the late twentieth century to launch the SM-2 series missile but since the missiles are smaller they have a reload system that reloads from under the launcher and can reload within 15 seconds. The launcher has a total of forty-eight individual cells and is six missile cells longs by eight cells wide. The launcher can fire up to half its total payload per melee. The launcher can use a vast variety of missiles including surface skimming missiles and rocket propelled torpedoes (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.) Each cell can carry one long range missile or two medium range missile. The reload for the cell must carry the same load as the main cell. Long range missiles are normally used against large targets and aircraft further out where the medium range missiles will normally be used to engage closer targets. About half of all long range missiles carried are fusion warheads and most missiles are normally smart missiles.

      Maximum Effective Range: As per long or medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

      Mega-Damage: As per long or medium range missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)

      Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), sixteen (16), or twenty-four (24) missiles for the whole launcher per melee round. Missile cells are automatically reloaded and are ready to fire next melee round.

      Payload: Forty-eight (48) missile cells in launcher with reload systems for each cell (one reload each cell). One (1) long range missile or two (2) medium range missiles may be carried per cell but reload must be the same load out as well. The ship will often carry thirty-two (32) cells with two medium range missiles each and the other cells loaded with one long range missile each.

  4. Four (4) Plessey SHIELD II Decoys Launchers: Located on the sides of the hull of the ship, they are designed to confuse incoming missiles. All four launchers must be operated or effects will be reduced. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not be effective against Phase World / Three Galaxies missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles) and reduce effects of launchers by 10% per launcher not used (Add +10% to rolls per launcher not used.) Only useful against missiles, not useful against torpedoes underwater.

    Range: Around Ship.

    Mega Damage: None.

    Effects:

    01-35

    Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missiles are all destroyed.

     

    36-60

    Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target.)

     

    61-00

    No effect, enemy missile or missile volley is still on target.

    Payload: Twenty-four (24) each for a total of ninety-six (96) canisters.

  5. Four (4) Advanced Towed Torpedo Decoys: The vessel carries four advanced towed decoy drones. They are each a small automated vehicle that creates a false sonar image designed to mimic the vessels. The decoy is dragged behind the frigate using a cable. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not be effective against Phase World / Three Galaxies guidance and targeting systems due to technological differences.

    M.D.C.: 20 each.

    Range: Not Applicable although decoy is deployed approximately 1,000 feet (304.8 meters) from the vessel.

    Effects: The decoy has an 80% chance of fooling ordinary non military sonars and non smart guided torpedoes, the decoy has a 50% chance of fooling military level sonars (like those of the Coalition) and non “smart” torpedoes, and the decoy has a 25% chance of fooling advanced military sonars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and “smart” torpedoes.

    Rate of Fire: One can be deployed at a time and requires two (2) minutes to deploy (reel out) another decoy.

    Payload: Four (4) towed decoys.


Special Systems:

The ship has all systems standard on a robot vehicle plus the following special features:.


[ Altarain TM, Bandito Arms TM, Brodkil TM, Chipwell Armaments TM, Coalition States TM, Cyber-Knight TM, Federation of Magic TM, Free Quebec TM, Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Horune TM, Iron Heart Armaments TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kydian TM, Larsen’s Brigade TM, M.D.C. TM, Mechanoids TM, Mega-Damage TM, Megaversal Legion TM, Millennium Tree TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Naut’Yll, New Navy TM, New Sovietskiy TM, NGR TM, Nog Heng TM, Northern Gun TM, Phase World TM, Psyscape TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Shemarrian TM, Splugorth TM, Stormspire TM, Sunaj TM, Tolkeen TM, Triax TM, Wellington Industries TM, Wilk’s Laser Technologies TM, Xiticix TM, and Zaayr TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]


Image drawn and copyrighted by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune) & Mischa (E-Mail Mischa). Click on line drawing for a better view.


Writeup by Kamikazi (co366thaw@hotmail.com) and Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).


Copyright © 2003 & 2018, Kamikazi & Kitsune. All rights reserved.


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